Massive chest trauma due to impalement.

It is concluded in cases of thoracic impalement after arrival to the hospital the chances of survival are high because the probability is dominant that organ injury is most probably limited to severe contusion of the lung and that the cardiovascular system is largely spared by the penetrating object. The case histories of two patients surviving massive thoracic impalement are presented. Factors influencing initial survival and principles of surgical management are discussed.

Abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy: a community hospital experience.

Resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms during a five-year period at two community hospitals was reviewed. The low mortality compares very favorably with results from large university hospitals.